You can never know every event that’s going to take place in your life, so to say that no one will ever attempt to drown you isn’t something you can guarantee, sad to say. That doesn’t mean you should be afraid of going anywhere with water and random people, you could just prepare yourself in case such an emergency called for it. The Navy Seals deal with a lot of aquatics training, and one of those just happens to be how to survive a drowning; now you can learn it for yourself directly from the professionals and experts who train the best of the US.

Author Clint Emerson recently published a book he titled “100 Deadly Skills: The SEAL Operatives Guide” where he explains a few of the useful life tips he gathered from his time in service. The things he learned and picked up, while very helpful for all your warfare needs, can seem like a bit much for the average citizen. For example, did you even know you could learn how not to drown? You’ll find an excerpt on exactly how they all manage that below!

“When an operative is captured in hostile territory, the odds of survival are low.
Instead of being taken to trial, he will likely simply be made to “disappear” — which is why operatives practice escaping while wearing undefeatable restraints on hands and feet, both in water and on land.

Tied up, thrown into open waters, and left to drown to death, the well-trained operative still has recourse to a few skills that can help extend his life until he is found or reaches solid ground.

When it comes to self-preservation in water, the key to survival is breath control. With the lungs full of air, the human body is buoyant — so deep breaths and quick exhales are key.

Buoyancy in freshwater is more challenging but still achievable. Panicking, which can lead to hyperventilation, is the number-one enemy to survival.

Restraints and body positioning may make breathing a challenge, but repositioning is always within the Nomad’s grasp. In shallow waters, use a sinking and bouncing approach (see diagram below) to travel toward shore, ricocheting off the seabed or lake floor up to the surface for an inhale.

When facing down, whether floating in place or using a backward kicking motion to swim to shore, the operative should arch his back in order to raise his head above water.”

There’s one less thing you’ll ever have to worry about, and it’s a simple matter of not making enemies with dangerous mobster types. Just kidding, but being tied up and drowned isn’t something that most people should ever have to worry about!